How to be a gracious host for holiday houseguests

Make yourself at home…

By Melissa Fiorenza/Life@Home

According to a 2012 HomeAway.com survey, 36 percent of travelers said they enjoy staying with friends and family during the holidays, while the rest cited reasons such as lack of personal space or comfortable sleeping arrangements for why they disagreed. Imagine if your houseguests — out-of-town cousins, in-laws or friends, whoever they may be — fell into the latter group?

Hopefully, you care just as much about being a top-notch host as your guests do about being polite visitors, and if that’s the case, read on. We’ve assembled a mix of easy and above-and-beyond ways you can help your guests feel right at home, landing you in the ultimate host hall of fame.

BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVE

Clean your house.

An obvious but important step. “Sharing your home can be stressful, but by cleaning and organizing in advance, you can have a relaxing time visiting with those you love,” says Bonnie Joy Dewkett, certified professional organizer and founder of thejoyfulorganizer.com. “Pick a room each day or a few rooms each week. Or schedule a special session with your normal cleaning service.” Get your holiday dishes washed and ready beforehand as well, adds Dewkett, so you can spend more time with your guests – not in the kitchen.

Carve out their space.

When you’re making up the guest room, try to create a spa-like atmosphere, says Neil Bindelglass, owner of Saratoga Senior Move Managers and an accredited home staging professional. In other words, make it meticulously clean and as free of your clutter as possible, and “use the highest quality sheets and pillows you have,” he says. No extra room? No problem. “Prepare a sleeping space for your guests,” says Dewkett, “and make sure your family knows that it is to be treated as a bedroom while they are there. Also give them a private place to change and wash up.”

Prep it with amenities.

Once the space is spotless, add a few essentials and thoughtful extras. “Aside from fresh towels in their room, include travel-size toiletries in case they forgot any of their own,” advises Ashley Willis, co-founder of party-planning blog The Sisters’ Soiree (thesisterssoiree.com). “Include a hand-written ‘Welcome to Our Home’ note on the dresser, that says ‘we’re happy to have you!’” A few other ideas from our pros: magazines, a scented candle, hand towels, mints, an alarm clock, water bottles, and — if they’ll be roaming the area by themselves – a map of your town.

Another really nice touch? A gift they can keep. “A beautiful small boxwood tree in the room is something they could bring home and enjoy for months after the holiday,” says event designer David Michael Schmidt, owner of Renaissance Floral Design in Albany. Or, he suggests, you could place a decorative ornament on the nightstand with a note attached; “So glad you could join us for Christmas.”

Send them a note.

Write to your guests in advance with a few questions. Ask if they have any dietary issues, what drinks they like or what they take with their coffee, suggests Schmidt, adding: “Send an e-mail along the lines of, ‘We’re so excited you’re coming and just want to be sure we have everything we need to make you feel comfortable.’” They’ll feel at ease knowing what they’re walking into and be grateful for your offer.

DURING THEIR STAY

Give them the lay of the land.

While you’re showing guests where everything is, “the best thing is to simply say, ‘My house is your house,’” says Bindelglass. “Here’s the fridge, here’s the coffee machine, help yourself to anything on the bookshelf. I always tell them, ‘If you’re up in the middle of the night or before I am, my house is your house.’” Even something as simple as showing them where the lights are is another step to making them feel comfortable, adds Schmidt.

Make a plan for breakfast.

Not everyone wakes up at the same time, especially before or after a big holiday. The solution? “Before heading to bed, take out the breakfast items you’ll be serving,” says Willis. “If your guests wake up earlier than you, they can feel free to help themselves to the coffee, crumb cake, cereal, bagels or fresh fruit – because you’ve already set it up for them on your counter or kitchen table.” That way, your guest won’t feel strange having to go through your cabinets, or, worse, feel like they should stay in bed until you wake up.

Let them help.

Pop quiz: If your guests offer to help cook or clean up after a meal, should you accept? Absolutely. “It helps them feel a part of the household, rather than a bystander watching their host do all the work while they sit and wait for you to be done,” says Willis. In fact, she says, don’t be afraid to ask. “Helping prep food, pour drinks, or retrieving more napkins — these are small tasks you can ask your guests to help with during the chaos of the holidays.” Small enough, she adds, that they won’t feel overwhelmed, just part of the activity.

Spend time with your company.

Lastly, remember to enjoy your time together. “Whenever anyone is invited to your home, they may be happy about it but feel as if they’re putting you out,” says Schmidt. “Show them that you’re actually glad to have them there, instead of saying ‘There’s your room there on the left,’ and leaving them be.” Make dinner reservations. Create an itinerary. Swap gifts. Think about it this way: the holidays are a stressful time, and your guests’ home environment could be pretty cluttered. Why not do your best to help them – and in turn, you – enjoy their time at your place?

AFTER THEY LEAVE

Want to really go above and beyond? A simple phone call after they leave can go a long way, says Willis. Ask if they got home safely, and reiterate that it was lovely have them in your home, showing them that you care. “Your guests will definitely appreciate the gesture … and who knows, maybe even invite you to their home to return the gesture of your amazing hosting skills.”

Have WiFi?
“I like to put a card with the WiFi password (if applicable) and the name of the network in the guest room,” says Dewkett.